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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 2025).

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Sat 18: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 18: Alter Ego + Jamie Toms/Graham Don Duo @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 18: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Repas 7 by Night, West St., Berwick TD15 1AS. 7:30pm. Free. Album launch gig.
Sat 18: Delta Prophets @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 19: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Friday, September 24, 2021

Sue Ferris Quintet @ The Gala Theatre, Durham - Sept. 24

Sue Ferris Quintet (tenor sax, baritone sax, flute); Graham Hardy (trumpet); Stu Collingwood (piano); Neil Harland (double bass); Rob Walker (drums)

The Gala Theatre's lunchtime concert series resumed a couple of months ago. Due to social distancing concerns the events took place in the venue's main theatre. Today it was back to how it used to be as a near capacity audience filed into the Gala's studio space to listen to the Sue Ferris Quintet. 

One change to the established line-up introduced pianist Stu Collingwood. The SF5 kicked off with Ellington's Just Squeeze Me. In the absence of a PA system, Ferris and co played it old school: the horns - Ferris, tenor sax and one number on baritone, Graham Hardy, trumpet - projecting to all four corners of the room, the familiar bass and drums combo of Neil Harland and Rob Walker providing a secure foundation.   

Ferris remembered the recently departed Chick Corea with a fine reading of Friends. Nicely warmed up, Roy Hargrove's Soppin' the Biscuit heard the band stretch out before taking it down on Leonard Bernstein's ballad One Hand, One Heart from West Side Story. It isn't very often Joe Gordon's Terra Firma Irma makes it into a set list so hearing it today made for a refreshing change. Having carted the big beast (aka baritone sax!) to the gig, it stood idle until near the end of the one hour performance whereupon Ferris pressed it into service on Gerry Mulligan's Rico Apollo

On a late September afternoon with the sun streaming through the windows, Sue Ferris didn't disappoint, she never does, her quintet always comes up with the goods. The SF5 will be in action once again down the road in Darlington at the Traveller's Rest on Friday 15 October (8:00pm start). October's Gala Theatre concert presents the brilliant guitar duo of James Birkett and Bradley Johnston. It's at the end of the month - Friday 29 - and it's advisable to book tickets in advance (03000 266 600) as it is likely to sell out well in advance. Russell   

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